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As Hollywood prepares for its most glamorous evening, five actresses compete to see who will claim the top prize.
Adria, a dignified and highly regarded grand dame of the movie industry, is intent on cementing her legacy as one of the greatest thespians of all time, even as the younger generation creeps up quickly behind her. Bitty must keep a nervous breakdown—and an increasingly debilitating alcohol addiction—at bay, as she searches for genuine closeness in an unforgiving landscape. Contessa, a former child star, is determined to make the world, and her leading man, take her seriously. Davina attempts to find her footing in superficial Los Angeles, a far cry from her roots as a serious London stage actress. And Jenny—always the underdog to her rival, Adria—sees this awards season as her personal redemption, a chance to atone for past mistakes and make up for missed opportunities.
With humor, wit, and an insider's insight, The Talent peels back the layers of women who are in the business of being perceived. And while they work to push their careers forward and maintain the public's goodwill, all five are forced to confront truths about themselves that they would rather ignore: Could Adria and Jenny have been a team all these years, rather than bitter enemies? Is it their responsibility to offer a lifeline to poor Bitty, who is clearly teetering on the edge? Should Contessa and Davina dim their own rising stars to make those around them more comfortable? What do women in the spotlight owe each other, and themselves?
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
February 25, 2025 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781668118252
- File size: 285485 KB
- Duration: 09:54:44
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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November 11, 2024
Variety chief correspondent D’Addario debuts with an uninspired tale of five women campaigning to win best actress at the Academy Awards. The field is led by Adria Benedict, the grand dame of American cinema, who’s anxious to protect that status. Challengers include Bitty Harbor, a secret alcoholic who’s hot for her “Alpha-Hunk” costar in a film about Lady Bird and Lyndon Johnson; Contessa Lyle, a Black former child star desperate to be taken seriously in her role as Laura in The Glass Menagerie; Davina Schwartz, an acclaimed London stage performer and star of a feminist take on Titus Andronicus, who feels like a fish out of water in Hollywood; and Jenny Van Meer, who has spent her career in Adria’s shadow and hopes to come into her own with a Maria Callas biopic. In the run-up to the big night, these five stars cross paths on the awards circuit and are forced to deal with one another’s secrets, insecurities, and jealousies. Unfortunately, the characters mostly feel two-dimensional, and the story is curiously devoid of drama. D’Addario channels the noise of Tinseltown, but not the glitter. Agent: Jessica Spitz, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. -
Six exceptional narrators deliver the hopes and fears of fictional actors nominated for the upcoming Oscars. They agonize over the past, their careers, their rivalries, and their futures. Cassandra Campbell is especially strong as Adria, an aging three-time award winner who is worried that her younger costar will outshine her. Nancy Linari captures the alienation and anger of Adria's rival, Jenny, who feels she never receives significant notice. Shakira Shute as Davina, a British import, offers a particularly winning performance, highlighting her discomfort at being in glitzy Hollywood. As actors Bitty, Contessa, and Eleanor, narrators Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Jade Wheeler and Janina Edwards all play their parts winningly. The novel lacks intensity, given such dramatic situations; however, the performances save the audiobook from being ho-hum. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine
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